Note: None of these characters are mine. Apologies for the foul language!

How I Became Yours – Chapter 3

Kate pushed the door open, looking down at the stack of books in her arms. Possessing the new book was a relief in itself, but having received it (indirectly) from the author himself made it all the sweeter. She stepped out onto the sidewalk and –

"Shit!" she shouted in surprise as she slammed into someone standing just outside the bookstore. She bent to gather the books, which had fallen from her arms. It was only when she stood that she registered the obstacle in her path – none other than Richard Castle … again. Noticing the tiny redhead who was watching her intently, she clamped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry," she muttered.

"That's quite the dirty mouth you've got there, for such a lovely young woman." He winked at her, and then bent to talk to the little girl. "Alexis, honey, run inside and find your backpack. I think we left it on the chair behind the table." The little girl nodded and ran inside the store.

"Rick Castle. It's so nice to run into you again," he said offering her his hand. His face split into a grin as he chuckled at his own joke. Kate marveled at how the man who wrote such grisly murders could be so much like a child.

"Kate Beckett," she said, shaking his hand.

"And what do you do, Ms. Beckett, that has you so tired you're falling asleep during my riveting performance?" He smiled at her as he said it, and though the words are cocky, he said them unassumingly. She liked him more and more by the minute.

"Um, I'm a student at the university, studying Russian literature at the moment, but I'm not sure if it's for me. Lately the only thing I've been doing is reading your books." She mentally kicks herself for rambling like a fangirl, and for being far too honest with a complete stranger, but he doesn't seem to notice either offense.

"You should ditch the Russians and study contemporary mystery and suspense." He wiggled his eyebrows and she smiled as he continued, "I hear there are some dashing, stunningly interesting authors out there upon whom you could draw inspiration." She laughed and opened her mouth to answer, but suddenly he gasped and grabbed her arm, his face lit up with excitement. "No wait! Even better! If you like this stuff, you should go for the real thing. Quit literature and become a cop! I can see it now: Detective Kate Beckett, badass extraordinaire." He clamped his hand over his mouth when he noticed the little redhead is standing next to him, backpack in hand, staring up at him.

He looked at the little girl, and said, "You didn't hear that."

"Hear what?" she asked, smiling conspiratorially. He winked at her and stood, but she tugged his sleeve and whispered, "We're going to be late for the movie, Daddy."

"Ah, yes. If you'll excuse us Detective Beckett, we've got a date with Disney. It was very nice to meet you."

He offered her his hand again and Kate shook it, smiling. "Nice to meet you as well. Keep writing." She gestured to the stack of books in her arms, "I can only reread these three so many times."

With one last smile, the writer and the redhead walked away. Kate silently congratulated herself for sounding pulled together, considering how hard her knees are shaking. She took a deep breath and leaned against the side of the building closing her eyes.

It had hit her like a ton of bricks the moment the words left his mouth. Become a cop. She'd been feeling like she was drowning these last few weeks, with nothing to hold on to and no hope of finding the surface. Cop settled on her like a rubber ducky life preserver and she felt something hopeful and definitely dangerous pop into her mind. She would become a cop. She would find and murder the man who stole her mother from her. Maybe, if she found some justice, just maybe, she might learn to breathe again.

"So, that's the story of how I became yours," Kate said, snuggling further into Castle's chest. "The start of the story, anyway." She looked over her shoulder at him, smiling as she ran her thumb along the new ring gracing her finger. He tightened his arms around her waist and bent his head slightly.

"I knew you the moment I saw you," he whispered. "How could I have forgotten that face?"

Her eyes grew wide and she turned to face him more fully. "You knew? It had been ten years since you'd met me. Why didn't you say anything?"

He ran his fingers through her hair and traced his thumb across her cheekbone.

"Meeting you again, that was the start of the story of how I became yours. You grew up so strong in those ten years. So beautiful." He shrugged slightly and the corners of his mouth turned up in a small smile as he explained, "I wanted to see where our story would go."

She considered him for a long moment and then nodded. "Okay, okay." She smiled softly and asked, "Anything else you need to tell me?"

He kissed her softly. "I love you. And I'm yours."

Thanks for reading!